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This no-fuss recipe for microwave corn on the cob is a must for those summer picnics and BBQs! It always disappears when I serve it with my BBQ Five-Spice Rotisserie Chicken!
Corn on the Cob in the Microwave
Have you ever felt that everyone is doing things the hard way? That’s how I feel about the “husk on” method of cooking corn on the cob in the microwave. Let’s be real: peeling and picking the corn silks off a hot cooked corn of cob is a royal PITA. It is NOT easy, it’s not fast other than the cooking time and when I cook corn I actually want it hot on the table. Cooking it WITHOUT the husk is the only way I cook it anymore!
My secret? A wet paper towel.
Taa-daa! Clean corn, ready and hot to go straight to your table and no dry kernels in sight!
When corn is cooked in the microwave it really retains its sweetness and stays nice and crisp. It’s also the perfect solution when you run out of space on the stove or grill! This has been my go-to way for cooking corn ever since I discovered it unless I already have the grill on the go – in which case it’s just as easy to grill it instead. This is a super-fast of making one of my favorite side dishes without sacrificing any of the taste!
How to Make Microwave Corn On The Cob
Microwaving Corn On The Cob takes no time at all!
- You’ll need to use a large microwaveable dish and make sure it has a lid (if you’re anything like me, your dish lids tend to go MIA quite often!).
- Place the corn in a single layer in the dish and pour hot water over the top.
- Then cover the corn completely with a wet paper towel.
- Pop on the lid and place the dish in the microwave for around 5 minutes. It might take more or less time depending on how fresh your corn is and what size it is. Fresh corn cooks much quicker but the larger it is the longer it’ll take.
- When your corn is ready, just remove the paper towel and serve! I like to serve mine with butter and sea salt but it’s entirely up to your own preference.
Tips And Tricks For Microwave Corn On The Cob
- It might take a few goes to get this cooked “just right” because microwave power can vary quite a bit, so don’t get disheartened if it comes out a bit over or under cooked on your first go! Just try changing up the cooking time next time around until you get to the perfect setting.
- Make sure you’re using fresh corn.
- Flavored butter is a great option if you want to add a bit of extra flavor to this recipe.
- Store the corn in the husk or in the refrigerator (preferably) or a cool place until you’re ready to use it. You can even keep it in the freezer so it lasts a bit longer.
- If you want a lighter meal, try serving it up with a nice chicken, radish and cucumber swiss chard chopped salad instead of with a meat main.
More Corn Recipes
Curry & Honey Roasted Corn on the Cob With Husks
Hope you love and use this fun hack when it comes to cooking corn! Enjoy!
Love,
Karlynn
Microwave Corn on the Cob
Ingredients
- 4 ears of fresh corn husked and cleaned completely
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1 paper towel soaked
Instructions
- In a large microwaveable casserole dish with a lid, place the corn in one layer.
- Pout the hot water over top.
- Place the wet paper towel on top of the corn, covering them completely.
- Place the lid onto the dish and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes. The amount of time will depend on how fresh your corn is ( fresh good quality corn on the cob needs very little cooking!) and how large they are.
- When done, remove the paper towel carefully and serve hot and fresh with butter and sea salt if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lyn Walraven says
Excellent method for MicroCoC. I cook husk on, then cut off ‘butt’ end about 1/2 inch up. Then squeeze corn out from ‘tip’ end. Comes out clean(no silk) and hot..use hot mitt!.
Lyn
Janice says
I just realized that you can microwave corn & what a game-changer! I do actually find husking the corn way easier and cleaner if cooked in the microwave “husk on” (I cut off the bottom and the silk after cooking and before shucking, which makes removal much faster (but still hot!). Still, I appreciate your preference to serve hot corn & also to take care of the prep ahead of time – especially with guests, or just so you can savor your meal as soon as it’s cooked! Thanks for the tip on this casserole method – I had been microwaving cobs individually and like the idea of doing multiple cobs at once! Saves energy & makes like easier 🙂
Jillian says
I’m an extremely beginner cook, and I didn’t know I could cook corn on the cob in the microwave. Now that I do it has made my life so much easier and it doesn’t sacrifice any of the taste. Thanks Karlynn.